Shaffer trucking......Specifically

In answer to Powell Peralta, We pick up at all times of the day and night. Yes this will screw up your sleep some, but if you log it legal, you'll always have your 10 hour break. I try for at least 8 hours of sleep everytime. I also don't run hard, and normally have enough time to take care of things like showering and eating during my 14 hour workday. One more thing to, once you are on a "shift", you can run like that that for at least a couple of days or so before having any time swings. i.e. , say I come out of home and I start basically running overnight. I will usually be able to run overnight (sleep during the day) for at least a week or so before a load shifts me to days, etc....

As far as a lot of blue trucks bearing the Crete name, Lost Boy has it right. Seing as how we are basically one company and getting tighter all the time, these things happen. Heck just a couple of days ago, I saw side by side at the fuel island, a Shaffer rig with a Crete trailer, and a Crete rig with a Shaffer trailer. The thing I notice with this is that far fewer Shaffer drivers complain about pulling those dry vans than Crete drivers complaining about pulling those reefers! Must be something about the noise......

I also won't complain myself too much about the "hijacking" of this thread when talking about Crete here. Who knows, maybe the Shaffer name is an endagered species. Like I said before, Crete is the name on my check, same way it says Navy on a Marines check, so what does it matter in the end. Just as long as I get my miles and I get my hometime.

That's it for now. Stick

 

The company says freight is slow right now, but I'm sure a lot of us are hearing this.

I am going to try and find out what is going on, and if I can, I will post their explanation.

 

As far as the northeast region goes, I'll be honest and tell you I've only talked to a handful of drivers that do it. Most of them are happy, and most of them do get home every weekend. You should average decent mileage over the year also. As you know the pay is great here. The recruiters get most everything right when they talk, although some will exagerate at times.

The two things I can tell you is 1: Communication in this company is key. If you want something and it's a reasonable request, then tell them that's what you want, sort of a "don't take no for an answer" thing. 2: This job is what you make it. If you as a driver come out here thinking that you'll do it your way regardless of company rules or federal laws, then simple, you'll fail. Example, I just saw the guy I started with over 5 months ago, and he's doing terrible. But, he's got constant log violations, and refuses freight (you can't really do that here, although I've found ways around that) and this is all that he admitted to.

I am doing great however. I am on national fleet, get home when I need to (notice I said Need, not Want), I'm getting good pay, and my equipment is good. I don't complain much and they hook me up. My log audits are excellent, and my "points" are in the negative.

I'm not perfect, and I'm sure I'll get something sooner or later that will jerk my chain, but then neither is the company. Don't expect perfection and you won't be disappointed.

Shaffer has a lot to offer. Address any and all concerns, keep your nose clean, and do it safely, legally, and on time! You should do well here.

Stick

(if there are any typos I missed, forgive me. I replied on my new Motorola Q. Small keyboard, sausage thumbs)

 

As a "national" fleet member, I go all over the country. I've been from Maine to Florida, Texas to California and pretty much everywhere in between.

I've been to the west coast twice in the five months I've been back. For as long as I'm out, I'd like to see more of it, but some times I'm happy just getting what I get. I live in central VA, and ask to get home every 3 - 6 weeks. I take off from 3 - 5 days when I get home.

Right now, we can take out $125 in advances every Sunday and Wednesday. So it's $250 max a week. They highly stress that this money is for operational expenses, but I use it mostly as my allowance. Keeps me from spending too much you know.

Shaffer covers most every toll, washout and lumper we deal with, but you WILL occasionally have to pay out of pocket. You will be re-imbursed for every legitimate expense. So, as long as you're responsible with your money, you should be okay.

Any more questions, feel free to ask!

Stick